On June 23, 1775, General George Washington left Philadelphia with Generals Charles Lee and Philip Schuyler to take command of the newly formed Continental Army in Massachusetts. By July 2, he arrived in Cambridge and began his command. The next day, on July 3, Washington reviewed his army for the first time and issued his first General Orders.

Places like George Washington’s Mount Vernon ensure that the American public—and the world—remember milestones like this. Milestones that remind us of the uniqueness of our founding and honor the legacies of the incredible leaders who gave so much then and continue to teach and inspire us today.

We are not a government-funded historic site. We rely on the support of dedicated citizens, LIKE YOU, who care about keeping the legacy of great American leaders like Washington alive.

Our Annual Summer Fund helps generate much-needed funds to support our busiest visitor season and make sure we can continue to deliver a world-class experience in well-maintained and preserved grounds and structures.

Your gift to the Annual Fund will:

• IMMERSE visitors young and old in Revolutionary history through experiences like Patriots Path, our Revolutionary War living history encampment.
• PRESERVE Washington’s home through projects like the Mansion Revitalization Project, which will safeguard the Mansion’s original building fabric and ensure its structural integrity for generations to come, just in time for America’s milestone 250th birthday next year!
• EDUCATE visitors of all ages and backgrounds through our state-of-the-art George Washington Presidential Library and our revitalized exhibit (opening in 2026) that will feature a new display highlighting the biography of George Washington like only Mount Vernon can!